Often described as 'social phobia's cousin' and misdiagnosed as autism, selective mutism is a debilitating fear of speaking in some situations experienced by some children. The disorder usually presents in children before the age of five, but it may not be recognized until the child starts school. When requested to speak, children with selective mutism often look down, blush, or otherwise express anxiety that disrupts their engagement with people and activities. Selective mutism is related to social anxiety and social phobia, and more than 90 percent of children with selective mutism also manifest symptoms of one of these problems. This book is the first available for parents of children with selective mutism. It offers a broad overview of the condition and reviews the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The book details a plan you can use to coordinate professional treatment of your child's disorder. It also explains the steps you can take on your own to encourage your child to speak comfortably in school and in his or her peer group. All of the book's strategies employ a gradual, 'stepladder' approach. The techniques gently encourage children to speak more, while at the same time helping them feel safe and supported. Angela E. McHolm, Ph.D., is director of the Selective Mutism Service at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, ON. The Selective Mutism Service offers outpatient psychiatric consultation to families and professionals such as school personnel, speech and language pathologists, and mental health clinicians who support children with selective mutism. She is assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON.

Helping Children with Selective Mutism and Their Parents: A Guide for School-based Professionals provides information that can help readers to better understand and combat selective mutism, offering evidence-based strategies for enhancing a child's verbal participation at school and in other types of social and academic activities.

Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterised by a child's inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed. Most children with selective mutism also have social phobia or social anxiety: they fear social interactions where there is an expectation to speak and communicate. Finding Your Voice highlights the different challenges a child with selective mutism might face, and provides effective, research-based behavioural intervention plans. Tips for engaging and motivating children are provided, focusing on a gradual, step-wise approach to increased speech, as well as fun and engaging activities that can be used at each step of treatment.

Treatment for Children with Selective Mutism outlines the sequence and essential elements to guide clinicians through a comprehensive, integrated program for young children who display symptoms of SM.

For anyone who needs to understand, assess or manage selective mutism, this is a comprehensive and practical manual that is grounded in behavioural psychology and anxiety management and draws on relevant research findings as well as the authors' extensive clinical experience. Now in its second edition and including new material for adolescents and adults, The Selective Mutism Resource Manual 2e provides: an up-to-date summary of literature and theory to deepen your understanding of selective mutism a wealth of ideas on assessment and management in home, school and community settings so that its relevance extends far beyond clinical practice a huge range of printable online handouts and other resources case studies and personal stories to illustrate symptoms and demonstrate the importance of tailored interventions. This book is essential reading for people who have selective mutism as well as for the clinicians, therapists, educators, caseworkers and families who support them.

Discusses selective mutism, explaining how those suffering from the disorder experience intense fear and panic in social situations, and offers suggestions for how parents and educators can help those afflicted.

My name is Ben and I don't talk sometimes is a story about a child's experience of selective mutism, in his words. Ben takes us on a journey of how he feels across situations - at his birthday party, with people he's unable to talk to, on playdates and at school. Through the story, we also learn that Ben's best friend has a fear of swimming and by taking small steps he works to overcome this. Ben shares, in a child-friendly way, his feelings around talking and interwoven into the story is the intervention of how he begins to make steps forward. Parents and professionals can use this book as a therapeutic tool to begin a dialogue with children about selective mutism. The story is suitable for children aged 6 years and over. Through beautiful illustrations, children will identify with Ben, realising that they are not alone; thus allowing for a conversation to begin about their difficulty with talking, as well as the steps to help them. About the Author Lucy Nathanson is a child therapist and founder of Confident Children. Lucy is passionate about helping children with selective mutism. She works directly with children and makes videos with the aim of spreading awareness of selective mutism. On an international level, Lucy speaks at conferences and provides support and guidance to parents and professionals. She is the author of Understanding Selective Mutism: A Beginner's Guide, My Name is Eliza and I don't talk at school and Why doesn't Alice talk at school? Find out more at www.confidentchildren.co.uk

Charli never says a word outside her house. She only speaks to her mother and father, and if her nana and poppy come over, it takes her a long time to say any words. One day, Charli's best friend from school, comes over to play. Lily, who brings a big sack of toys to share, must rely on Charli's mother to ask choice questions that encourage Charli to practice talking. As her mother gives her choices, Charli soon begins to open up and talk to Lily. Charli chooses which colored marker she wants to use, what she wants to draw, and whether she wants to borrow one of Lilys markers. Charli and Lily are having so much fun! Charli's Choices is a beneficial, interactive childrens book for educators, children, and parents that offers valuable insight into selective mutism as a little girls mother teaches her, through specific questions, how to communicate successfully with others.

Selective Mutism: A Guide for Therapists, Educators, and Parents provides an effective, research-based behavioral intervention plan for the successful treatment of Selective Mutism. Based on years of clinical experience and expertise, author Dr. Aimee Kotrba provides not only assessment and treatment information, but also case examples, easy-to-implement workbook sheets, and informative handouts. Dr. Kotrba is an advocate of team treatment - parents, schools, and mental health professionals working together to intervene with selective mutism -- and this book provides intervention strategies for all team members, as well as a comprehensive treatment plan that can be individualized to any child. The techniques included emphasize a gradual, stepwise approach to increased speech, as well as fun and engaging activities that can be used at each step of treatment. Tips for engaging and motivating children and teens are included to improve treatment outcomes.

Everyone has fears. A fear of the dark, a fear of heights, or even a fear of the unknown can make leading an otherwise normal life difficult. But what if you were afraid not of the dark or of heights-but of other people? What if you were overcome with paralyzing terror and even pushed to the brink of sickness each time you talked with another person-even though you wanted more than anything to be with and enjoy the company of that person? In Learning to Play the Game: My Journey through Silence, author Jonathan Kohlmeier shares a coming-of-age memoir of his young life living with selective mutism-an extreme form of social anxiety. At first as a child being so afraid that he could barely speak outside of the home, Jon's story of struggle turns triumph as he is eventually able to join the debate team in high school. From the start of his journey in kindergarten to his high school graduation, Jon chronicles his desire to be "normal"-whatever that means. 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist